bromocriptine
Brand names: Cycloset
Bromocriptine (Cycloset) is a medicine that acts like dopamine in your body. It is used to treat conditions caused by hormone imbalances, acromegaly, and Parkinson's disease.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$5.29/unit
Generic Price
$1.23/unit
Generic Savings
77%
Generic Available
Yes (4 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 25, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine can treat problems caused by too much prolactin, a hormone.
Common side effects
Nausea, Headache, Dizziness
Key warnings
This medicine may cause low blood pressure.
How It Works
Bromocriptine works by acting like dopamine, a natural substance in the brain. It helps to lower the amount of prolactin and growth hormone in your body. In Parkinson's disease, it helps improve motor control.
How to Take It
Take bromocriptine with food. Your doctor will start you on a low dose and increase it slowly. They will watch you closely to find the lowest dose that works for you. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and do not change the dose without talking to them.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
If you are taking bromocriptine for high prolactin and become pregnant, talk to your doctor. They will help you decide whether to continue taking it. If you are taking this medicine for acromegaly, prolactinoma, or Parkinson’s disease and become pregnant, discuss with your doctor whether the therapy is still medically necessary.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store bromocriptine tablets at room temperature (68° to 77°F) in a tightly closed, light-resistant container, and keep the desiccant inside the bottle.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 309 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 637 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
637
Death-Related Reports
30
Hospitalization Reports
231
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NAUSEA | 46 |
| 2 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 36 |
| 3 | HEADACHE | 35 |
| 4 | VOMITING | 33 |
| 5 | DIZZINESS | 31 |
| 6 | PYREXIA | 29 |
| 7 | FATIGUE | 28 |
| 8 | DRUG EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY | 25 |
| 9 | NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME | 24 |
| 10 | TREMOR | 22 |
| 11 | SOMNOLENCE | 20 |
| 12 | DIARRHOEA | 19 |
| 13 | DYSPNOEA | 19 |
| 14 | BLOOD CREATINE PHOSPHOKINASE INCREASED | 18 |
| 15 | HYPOTENSION | 18 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This medicine may cause low blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, are sensitive to ergot alkaloids, or are allergic to bromocriptine or any of the ingredients in the tablets. If you are taking this medicine for high prolactin and become pregnant, talk to your doctor about whether to continue taking it.
Known Drug Interactions
Other Drugs Metabolized by CYP3A: Alfentanil Bromocriptine Cilostazol Methylprednisolone Vinblastine Phenobarbital St. John’s Wort Use With Caution There have been spontaneous or published reports of CYP3A based interactions of clarithromycin with alfentanil, methylprednisolone, cilostazol, bromocriptine, vinblastine, phenobarbital, and St.
Mechanism: Clarithromycin slows down the liver enzyme that breaks down bromocriptine, which can cause the drug to build up in your system.
What to do: Use this combination with caution, as your doctor may need to adjust your dosage.
The concomitant use of macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin was shown to increase the plasma levels of bromocriptine (mean AUC and C max values increased 3.7-fold and 4.6-fold, respectively).
Mechanism: Erythromycin slows down how fast your body gets rid of bromocriptine. This causes the medicine to build up to higher levels in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to lower your dose of bromocriptine or watch you more closely for side effects while you are taking this antibiotic.
Compounds in these categories result in a decreased efficacy of bromocriptine mesylate: phenothiazines, haloperidol, metoclopramide, and pimozide.
Mechanism: Pimozide works against bromocriptine in the body. This makes the bromocriptine less effective at treating your condition.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your treatment because this combination can stop your medicine from working as well as it should.
Compounds in these categories result in a decreased efficacy of bromocriptine mesylate: phenothiazines, haloperidol, metoclopramide, and pimozide.
Mechanism: Haloperidol blocks the effects of bromocriptine in the body. This prevents the medicine from working correctly.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about this combination, as haloperidol can make your bromocriptine treatment less effective.
Bromocriptine mesylate may interact with dopamine antagonists, butyrophenones, and certain other agents.
Mechanism: These drugs can interfere with each other because they both target the dopamine system in the brain. This can make the treatment less effective or cause unwanted effects.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your dose or monitor you closely to ensure the medicine is working.
Common Questions
Can I drink alcohol while taking bromocriptine?
What should I do if I experience nausea?
Can bromocriptine be used to treat infertility?
How long does it take for bromocriptine to work?
Can I stop taking bromocriptine suddenly?
Does bromocriptine interact with other medications?
What if I want to become pregnant while taking bromocriptine?
Can bromocriptine cause weight gain?
Is bromocriptine a cure for Parkinson's disease?
What should I do if I experience dizziness while taking bromocriptine?
What are the common side effects of bromocriptine?
Does bromocriptine interact with other medications?
What drug class is bromocriptine?
Is there a generic version of bromocriptine?
Is bromocriptine safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Dopamine Agonist (Diabetes)
Other drugs grouped near bromocriptine — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acarbose
Precose
Acarbose is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
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alogliptin
Nesina
Alogliptin and Metformin HCl is a drug that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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canagliflozin
Invokana
Invokana is a medicine used with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
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colesevelam
Welchol
Colesevelam is a medicine that helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C) and control blood sugar in adults.
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dapagliflozin
Farxiga
Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Compare with bromocriptine →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for bromocriptine
The FDA label for bromocriptine (sold under brand names such as Cycloset) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Dopamine Agonist (Diabetes) class. This medicine can treat problems caused by too much prolactin, a hormone. Official labeling lists 11 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Headache, Dizziness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 309 voluntary reports. The database also lists 7 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.23 versus $5.29 for the brand — a 77% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: May 31, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages